U.S. patent application number 12/300057 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-24 for band clamp.
This patent application is currently assigned to HANS OETIKER AG MASCHINEN-UND APPARATEFABRIK. Invention is credited to Walter Streuli.
Application Number | 20090235492 12/300057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37704842 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090235492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Streuli; Walter |
September 24, 2009 |
BAND CLAMP
Abstract
A clamp is formed from a band with overlapping end portions. The
clamp includes closing means including an aperture in one of the
band end portions and a projection on the other band end portion to
engage the aperture in a closed condition of the clamp and hold the
mutually overlapping band end portions upon one another. The clamp
also includes tightening means for tightening the clamp by reducing
the circumferential length from the closed condition and a
tightened condition. The clamp has force transmitting means for
positively transmitting tensile force between the mutually
overlapping band end portions in the tightened condition of the
clamp. The force transmitting means includes a first cup-shaped
embossment formed in one of the band end portions and a second
cup-shaped embossment formed in the other band end portion and
adapted to engage the first cup-shaped embossment in the closed
condition of the clamp.
Inventors: |
Streuli; Walter; (CH-Hausen
am Albis, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
750-17TH STREET NW, SUITE 900
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-4675
US
|
Assignee: |
HANS OETIKER AG MASCHINEN-UND
APPARATEFABRIK
Horgen
CH
|
Family ID: |
37704842 |
Appl. No.: |
12/300057 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
May 9, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/004344 |
371 Date: |
January 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 33/025 20130101;
F16L 33/035 20130101; Y10T 24/1478 20150115; Y10T 24/1412 20150115;
Y10T 24/148 20150115; Y10T 24/1457 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/19 |
International
Class: |
B65D 63/00 20060101
B65D063/00 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A clamp formed of a band and having band end portions which
overlap in the closed condition, comprising: closing means
including an aperture in one of the band end portions and a
projection on the other band end portion to engage the aperture in
a closed condition of the clamp and hold the mutually overlapping
band end portions upon one another; tightening means for tightening
the clamp by reducing the circumferential length thereof from the
closed condition and a tightened condition; and force transmitting
means separate from the closing means for positively transmitting
tensile force between the mutually overlapping band end portions in
the tightened condition of the clamp, wherein the force
transmitting means includes a first cup-shaped embossment formed in
one of the band end portions and a second cup-shaped embossment
formed in the other band end portion and adapted to engage the
first cup-shaped embossment in the closed condition of the
clamp.
14. The clamp of claim 13, wherein both cup-shaped embossments are
rounded at least in an area which is adjacent the tightening means
in an inner one of the embossments and is remote from the
tightening means in the other embossment.
15. The clamp of claim 14, wherein both embossments are circular in
a cross-section taken parallel to a band surface.
16. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the inner one of the embossments
has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the
other embossment.
17. The clamp of claim 13, wherein both embossments are deep-drawn
from the band forming the clamp.
18. The clamp of claim 13, wherein the closing means includes a
slot formed in one band end portion and extending in the
longitudinal direction of the band, and a tab bent out of the other
band end portion and adapted to extend through the slot.
19. The clamp of claim 18, wherein the closing means includes two
parallel tabs in that band end portion which is the inner one in
the closed condition of the clamp, the tabs being adapted to extend
through corresponding parallel slots in the outer band end portion
and to be folded upon one another.
20. The clamp of claim 13, wherein the force transmitting means is
disposed in close proximity to the closing means.
21. The clamp of claim 13, wherein the force transmitting means is
disposed on a side of the closing means remote from the free end of
that band end portion which is the outer one in the closed
condition of the clamp.
22. The clamp of claim 15, wherein the inner diameter of one of the
embossments is 3.5 to 4.0 mm and greater by 0.2 to 0.4 mm than the
outer diameter of the other embossment, for a band width from 8 to
15 mm and a band thickness from 0.6 to 1.0 mm.
23. The clamp of claim 13, wherein the tightening means includes an
ear formed of the band and having two leg portions extending
perpendicular to the band in the non-tightened condition of the
clamp, and a bridge portion connecting the outer ends of the leg
portions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This is a National Stage U.S. patent application that relies
for priority on International Patent Application No.
PCT/EP2006/004344, filed on May 9, 2006, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a hose clamp. More specifically,
this invention relates to a hose clamp formed from a single band of
material.
BACKGROUND
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,499 discloses a clamp formed from a
band. The open clamp, which in the delivery condition is circularly
pre-shaped, is placed around the object to be clamped with the two
band end portions overlapping one another. For closing the clamp,
hooks are provided in the overlapped inner band end portion, which
engage apertures provided in the outer band end portion. The clamp
is subsequently tightened by narrowing a so-called "Oetiker
ear".
[0004] The known clamp has three hooks. One of the hooks is a guide
hook in the form of a tab bent from the band material to extend
through a slot provided in the outer band end portion and extending
in the longitudinal direction of the band. The two other hooks are
support hooks, stamped out of the inner band end portion by cold
deformation, to engage corresponding edges of window-shaped
apertures in the outer band end portion. The edge of the guide
hook, remote from the inner band end, extends obliquely outward so
that, when the clamp is tightened, the mutually overlapping band
end portions are guided toward each other and are maintained in a
close overlapping relationship.
[0005] The tensile forces, which occur between the two band end
portions in the tightened condition of the clamp, are transmitted
primarily from the two support hooks formed at the inner band end
portion onto the edges of the window-shaped apertures formed in the
outer band end portion remote from the tightening means. It has
been found that, when the tensile forces to be transmitted are
increased, material failure will occur at these aperture or window
edges.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,747 discloses a hose clamp which has an
elasticity reserve in the form of an attached spring and an
additional means for limiting the force acting on the spring. This
limiting means uses a hook that engages the edge of an aperture at
the given maximum force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides for a clamp which is formed from a
band, i.e., an open clamp, that withstands higher tensile forces
than comparable prior-art clamps of the same material and
dimension.
[0008] In accordance with at least one contemplated embodiment of
the invention, force transmitting means are provided in addition
to, and separate from, the closing means for positively
transmitting the tensile force which acts between the mutually
overlapping band end portions in the tightened condition of the
clamp. The closing means, which includes an aperture in one of the
band end portions and a projection on the other band end portion
for engaging the aperture, is thus relieved of transmitted, tensile
forces. Unlike the prior art, the (at least one) aperture, which is
part of the closing means and which necessarily weakens the band
material, is not used for transmitting forces. Tests have shown
that the clamp of the invention breaks within the area of the full
band width, possibly in the area of the tightening means, but not
at the closing means and is, thus, capable to withstand higher
forces than prior art devices.
[0009] The configuration of the force transmitting means in one
contemplated embodiment is desirable because cup-shaped embossments
in the band material increase the stability of the material rather
than decreasing it.
[0010] The at least partially rounded shape of the embossments in
one contemplated embodiment avoids stress peaks in the force
transmitting area. The shape contemplated for another embodiment is
advantageous also from the manufacturing standpoint.
[0011] In one contemplated embodiment of the invention, the
embossments engage one another with play, which facilitates the
closing of the clamp without impairing the force transmission.
[0012] The embodiment of the invention defined by still another
contemplated embodiment is desirable in so far as the mutually
overlapping band end portions are closely held upon one another in
the closed condition of the clamp. In combination with other
aspects of embodiments of the invention, this has the effect that
the two mutually engaging embossments cannot become disengaged even
under high tensile forces.
[0013] The invention is suitable in connection with the shape of
the tightening means discussed and illustrated with respect to
selected ones of the embodiments discussed herein.
[0014] Other aspects of the invention will be made apparent from
the discussion below and from the drawings appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with
reference to the drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hose clamp of the invention in
the closed but not tightened condition;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hose clamp band in the
straight, but otherwise completely formed, condition of the
clamp;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the clamping band shown in FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of an embossment
provided in the clamping band, the view being taken at the location
4-4 in FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of another
embossment provided in the clamping band, the view being taken at
the location 5-5 in FIG. 2; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the location 6-6
in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The invention will now be described in connection with one
or more contemplated embodiments. The embodiment(s) described
is(are) not intended to be limiting of the invention. To the
contrary, the embodiment(s) is(are) intended to illustrate the
scope and breadth of the invention. As should be appreciated by
those skilled in the art, numerous variations and equivalents also
are contemplated to be encompassed by the scope of the
invention.
[0023] The hose clamp shown in FIGS. 1-6 is made from a steel band
10 having a width of 8 to 15 mm, typically 10 mm, and a band
thickness of 0.6 to 1.0 mm, typically 0.8 mm. Starting from the
free end 11 of the band end portion 12, which constitutes the outer
band portion in the closed condition of the clamp shown in FIG. 1,
the following structures are formed in the band 10: two parallel
slots 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of the band 10; a
cup-shaped embossment 14; an ear-shaped tightening means 15; a
central band portion 17 laterally cut free by two longitudinal cuts
16 and pressed out of the band 10; two tabs 18 cut free on three
sides, bent out of the band 10, and extending parallel to the
longitudinal direction of the band; a further cup-shaped embossment
19; two guide portions bent out of the band 10 and extending
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the band; and a tongue 22
extending from the opposite end 21 of the band 10.
[0024] In the closed condition of the clamp shown in FIG. 1, the
slots 13 and the first cup-shaped embossment 14 are formed in the
outer band end portion 12, whereas the tabs 18 and the second
cup-shaped embossment 19 are formed in the inner band end portion
23.
[0025] The two cup-shaped embossments 14 and 19, which are formed
by deep-drawing the material of the band 10, are essentially
inverted-U-shaped structures in the longitudinal section of the
band. The embossments 14 and 19 are circular in the plan view, as
illustrated. The inner diameter of the embossment 14 provided in
the outer band portion 12 is 3.5 to 4.0 mm, typically 3.8 mm, and
is larger by 0.2 to 0.4 mm, typically 0.3 mm than the outer
diameter of the embossment 19 formed in the inner band end portion
23. Thus, the two embossments 14 and 19 engage one another with
play and are, therefore, easily brought into engagement when the
clamp is closed.
[0026] In the closed condition of the clamp, the tabs 18 extend
through the slots 13 and are folded upon one another on the outer
side of the outer band end portion 12, as shown in FIG. 6, so that
they substantially completely surround a web 24 of the band 10 that
remains between the tabs 18. Since the slots 13 are formed near the
free end 11 of the outer band end portion 12, the latter is held
tightly on the inner band end portion 23 which, in turn, surrounds
the object to be clamped (not shown). As a result, the two
cup-shaped embossments 14 and 19 are securely held in mutual
engagement.
[0027] In the closed condition of the clamp shown in FIG. 1, the
free end of the tongue 22 extends into the area of a step 25 formed
in the band 10 at a starting point where a slot is formed by the
two cuts 16 underneath the pressed-out central band portion 17.
[0028] The ear 15, which forms the tightening means, has two leg
portions 26 which, in the non-tightened condition of the clamp,
extend perpendicularly to the band 10. The ear 15 also includes a
bridge portion 26 which connects the outer ends of the leg portions
26 and is reinforced by a depressed bead 28. The depressed bead 28
is guided between the guide regions 20.
[0029] For tightening the clamp, the ear 15 is squeezed by a
pliers-type tool applied to the feet of the leg portions 26 to
reduce the circumferential length of the clamp, whereby the tongue
22 is further moved underneath the pressed-out central band portion
17. The tensile forces, which then are established between the
outer band end portion 12 and the inner band end portion 23, act on
the mutually engaging cup-shaped embossments 14 and 19 which
contact one another in the region of the outer embossment 14,
remote from the ear 15. The closed, round shape of the embossments
14 and 19 allows very high forces to be transmitted. On the other
hand, the slots 13 through which the tabs 18 of the closing means
are guided are left free of tensile forces.
[0030] To hold the embossments 14 and 19 in secure engagement, it
is useful to arrange them as closely as possible to the closing
means formed by the slots 13 and tabs 18. This arrangement will
also avoid an unnecessary length of the band.
[0031] Since the slots 13 are not exposed to tensile forces, they
may terminate close to the free end 11 of the outer band end
portion. This also permits a saving in band length.
[0032] The embossments 14 and 19 do not have to have the circular
shape shown in the illustrated embodiment. To avoid peak stresses,
it is useful for the embossments 14 and 19 to be rounded at least
in the area that, in the outer embossment 14, is remote from the
ear 15. In other words, the embossments 14 and 19 should contact
one another in their right-hand areas, as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5.
[0033] The materials and dimensions given above are mentioned only
for illustrating a typical embodiment. The invention is generally
applicable to band clamps made of other materials and in other
dimensions.
* * * * *